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The Hercules Run
'Hercules'
Classic and Modern Motorcycle Charity Run 2010
(full details now on Hercules Run 2010
page)
This years Hercules Run on Sunday
October 3rd (the long and scenic way round of course) is
on behalf of a very brave young man and his dedicated family. I have
asked Christopher’s mum to write a few words about Chris and
the treatment and support that he has received so far.
Please take a few minutes to read his
story below.
Thank You
Geoff Madden
CHRISTOPHER CURWEN D.O.B. 27/7/87
– AGE 22 – aka “BERGER”
Christopher, a local lad from
Preesall, a keen footballer within the local area at Wyre Villa FC
and student studying sports coaching degree in final year at UCLAN
(Jan 2009)
After a period of breathlessness and
general lack of energy whilst at UCLAN he was referred to Blackpool
Victoria Hospital for tests. At the end of Feb 2009 he was
diagnosed with acute t-cell lymphoblast lymphoma, basically a rare
form of cancer. Upon the advice of top haematologist, Dr
Macheta, at Blackpool, he advised that the best options available to
Christopher would be at the Christie in Manchester on their
specialist Young Oncology Unit (Y.O.U.), where they dedicate care
and treatment for patients aged 16 – 24 years of age.
Within three days he was admitted to the Y.O.U.
Following a very harsh, intense
chemotherapy regime and radiotherapy treatment, in November 2009
Christopher had his final CT scan and the results in early December
2009 gave him and his family the best Christmas present anyone could
wish for with the news that the lymphoma was now immeasurable,
however to be on the safe side a maintenance program for a further 2
years would be followed.
This provided tremendous hope and
encouragement, spurring him on with life again, and whilst staying
over the Christmas period with his girlfriend Emily in South
Carolina, USA, he proposed and got engaged on New Years Eve.
On his return, his positivity was such that he started to look at
returning to finish his degree at UCLAN.
Geoff madden contacted me in
February 2010 offering to hold the “Hercules Run” this year for
Christopher’s cause, the Y.O.U. as we as a family had supported his
many bike runs over the years and as he says, he likes to keep it as
local as possible helping people from our villages and their
supporting charity.
Unfortunately on 28 April 2010
Christopher was rushed back to Christie’s after feeling unwell for a
short time, to be told he had a large amount of fluid around his
heart and the lymphoma had returned. After complications
following the heart surgery he spent 12 days in critical care at
Christies, but is now back on the Y.O.U. Receiving remission
chemotherapy. Hopefully they will get the lymphoma back to the
remission stage however he will then have to have a full bone marrow
transplant from an unrelated diner as he has no full siblings.
Anyone interested in becoming either
a blood donor or bone marrow donor should speak with their local GP
for further information, or check out the Anthony Nolan bone trust
website. Thank you for any help you are able to give.
Karen Bradley
Mum of Christopher Curwen
Monday May17th
2010
.......................................................................................................
The Hercules Run is an organised
annual charity event involving motorcycles, their riders and
pillions raising money for a different Charity each year.
The run begins with all participants meeting up at Preesall
Fleetwood's Charity School before heading out on a pre-tested route
to a destination of interest, involving an approximate 140 mile
ride, where trophies for various categories are awarded; Best Jap,
Most Original, Best 2 Stroke, Best 4 Stroke, Best Overall and the
illustrious Hercules Award.
The first Hercules Charity Bike Run was organised by well know local
biker and engineering genius, Geoff Madden. In 1932, Geoff's
granddad, Lodge Madden, had taken Geoff's dad, Maurice, aged 10, on
a trip from Preesall to Carlisle on his 1925 500cc V-twin James.
The James had no pillion seat and had to be hastily fitted with a
cushion due to the potholes and ruts of the old A6.
Twenty Five years on and Geoff now has a couple of James Captains
and a constant itch to recreate his grandfather's journey. All
his friends who heard the story wanted to become involved, so it
made perfect sense to turn it into a mass run and raise some money
for Charity. The run has gone from strength to strength since
the first official Hercules Run in 2002, which started out with just
12 riders compared to 2008's 150 riders and their pillions.
The run is held on the first Sunday in October with a pre-run party
night on the Friday, held at the Golden Ball pub, Pilling.
Past Hercules Run events can be viewed via the
Hercules Past page where you can read details of the run, the
designated Charity, the destination and view press clippings from
various newspapers.
Charities donated to so far include:
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